News from the Missoula Cultural CouncilThis First Friday marks the beginning of the 4th of July weekend, and summer is in high gear! We've had a lot of rain, and Montana looks greener than ever! Downtown Missoula is bike and pedestrian friendly, which is perfect for a First Friday Gallery Walk. Thanks to the Brink Gallery for stepping up and being the First Friday sponsor this month.

Galleries and Museums

The Brink Gallery111 West FrontThe Brink Gallery is pleased to announce the upcoming exhibition fluid, by Rebecca Kamen. With a deep interest in the relationship between art and science, Kamen’s work investigates form, matter, chemistry, cosmology, spirituality and philosophy. Kamen is a professor of art at Northern Virginia Community College where she has received the Educational Foundation’s Outstanding Service to the College Award, as well as being the recipient of the Chancellor’s Commonwealth Professorship for 2011-2013. She has also exhibited and lectured nationally and internationally in China, Hong Kong, and Egypt. Please join us for a reception with the artist on Friday, July 1st, 5 - 8pm.

Monte Dolack Gallery139 West Front Announcing the release of Fish Camp, Big Hole River,2011 by Mary Beth Percival, available as a limited edition archival digital print. Please join us for July First Friday from 5-8pm, we will be exhibiting landscape studies by Mary Beth Percival and for musical entertainment, Dan Dubuque on guitar.

Dana Gallery246 North Higgins Dana Gallery presents Icons of the West,from now through September 30. The artists have been asked to create their own interpretation of a Western Icon, be it horses, cowboys, western landscapes, native American themes of the old west as well as visions of the new west. Pictured here is a work by Rob Akey.Other artists include H. Steven Oiestad, Frank Hagel, Andy Cline, Howard Friedland, Stephanie Frostad, and Linda St. Clair. This is the first in what we hope to grow into a nationally recognized and anticipated event drawing art collectors from the region and the nation to Missoula. Reception 5-8 p.m.

The Clay Studio of Missoula1106 HawthorneHighlighting the wide range of interests of Flathead Valley Community College instructor David Smith, Recent Work include a diverse range of ceramic work—everything from translucent porcelain to pots to Raku fired food. The exhibition will be on display at the Clay Studio of Missoula through July, with an opening on Friday, July 1, 5:30-9pm.

Montana Art and Framing
709 RonanThe Montana Bricolage Artists (MBA) of the Missoula and Bitterroot valleys, along with invited artists from across Montana, are presenting "The Trunk Show". Bricolage is defined as a construction or creation made from a diverse range of available things. Long narrow pieces are suspended from the ceiling so as to create the experience of strolling through a forest of fiber art interpretations of trees in their many forms, seasons, and varieties. A First Friday reception is Friday, July 1, from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Call 541-7100 for more information.

The Artists' Shop304 North HigginsThe Artists' Shop, gallery of regional art and fine craft, presents "A Twist of Fate," sculptural baskets by artist Jennifer Dyer of Seeley Lake. The exhibit reveals basketry as a fine art form as well as the artist's mastery of the craft. Her original works are inspired by the Mobius strip, the spiral form, and events in her life. Artist's reception from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, July 1. The show may be viewed through July.

Missoula Art Museum335 North PatteeMAM is holding it's First Friday reception on July 7 (the First Thursday). Montana is a place where artists are not afraid to use their work to speak out about the state. Artists’ Gallery Talks, 5 PM, featuring a bevy of Expressing Montana artists. Performances by old-time songwriter Ray Jacobs, Poet Laureate of Montana Henry Realbird, satiric songwriter and rancher Sandy James, and Tongue River songwriter Martha Scanlan 6-7:30 p.m. Pictured here is work by Kate Davis. View exhibitions in six galleries, sample delicious wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages.

Other Venues

The Tides Gallery at Bathing Beauties501 South Higgins
The Tides Gallery at Bathing Beauties presents Rocks by Renee' Brown, July 1 - August 4, with an opening 5-8 p.m. Friday July 1Betty's Divine521 South HigginsBetty's Divine presents Ria de Neeve, a mutli-media artist who grew up in Montana. Many of her paintings are on the covers of old books she found abandoned at the library. The surfaces are collages and the main figures are painted over top with acrylics. She creates images that inspire and nurture hope -reminding us of our connection with nature and each other. She gains a lot of inspiration from the teen art group she founded called The Drawing Circle and from her mediation/mindfulness practice. Reception 5-8 p.m.

Downtown Dance Collective121 West MainThe Downtown Dance Collective presentsPhotographic stencilsby Tyler D Nielsen. He is thrilled to have been asked back as an artist to the Downtown Dance Collective. His February show featured photography taken in dance studios and during dance performances in Missoula. For this upcoming show in July, Nielsen has translated 6 photographs of local dancers that he has taken into 2 and 3 color stencils to be painted on windows salvaged from Home Resource here in Missoula. “I have worked with stencils and graphic art before, and I have pursued photography for the last ten years, this will be a culmination of all three,” says Nielsen. “It’s all brand new to me, which actually makes me more excited for people to see it, and I am again delighted to be able to complement the DDC as a place for fostering artists.” The show will be up at the Downtown Dance Collective throughout July. First Friday reception is from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on July 1st.

Turning the WheelXXX's on North Higgins Turning the Wheel Dance Mob. Add a twist to your First Friday! Meet up with Turning the Wheel at the XXX’s on North Higgins at 5:30 p.m. to create our "Dance Mob" that will move through downtown in creative and surprising ways. Come experience the joy of dancing in the streets and meaningful community play. Feel free to come and go as the night progresses. We’ll end around 7PM. Visit “Turning the Wheel Missoula” on Facebook for more!

Prudential Montana Real Estate314 North HigginsKate Davis, Raptors of the Rockies. Her work on display, including Book Signing for Raptors of the West, published May 2011, several photographs from the new book, and large metal bird sculptures. Kate will bring one of her live birds for the evening. Beer provided by Big Sky Brewing. Reception 5-8 p.m.

Bernice's Bakery190 South 3rd West Bernice's Bakery presents the Annual Employee Art Show. Come one! Come all! Bring the kids! Grandma's too! Don't forget Grandpa! All your friends are invited! Yes folks! It's that time of the season over here at Bernice's Bakery! Those busy bee's behind the counter that bake and serve you and your whole family delicious, delectable, divine treats wish to show you their artistic side in our annual Employee Art Show. And guess what? We'll supply the treats! Hope to see you there!

Yellowstone Photo321 North Higgins For July, Yellowstone Photo presents the Rocky Mountain Photo Club in honor of America.

FrontierSpaceAlley West of HigginsBetween Spruce & PineAmber Prouty, a 2010 Missoula BFA graduate is exhibiting a new drawing series titled Mask-A-Raid. The drawings on paper feature people wearing what is now considered vintage clothing and masked accessories. The Mask-A-Raid Exhibition’s opening and reception is at FrontierSpace, a contemporary gallery in the alley behind Sushi Hana that connects Pine Street to the back of the Old Post on July 1st, running from 6-9 p.m.

The Loft119 West MainTamar Kasberg is showing photographs at the Loft, July 1st. Reception from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Lambros Real Estate420 North Higgins, suite C Lambros Real Estate has a new downtown office, and features the digital photography of William E. Burwick for First Friday this month. Reception 5-8 p.m.

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